Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs

General Information

As a student at Brown, your life extends beyond the classroom. Learning to make healthy decisions, including whether or not to use substances like alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and marijuana is just one of the challenges you will face. These pages contain extensive information on many types of drugs and provide specific facts about each drug, how it is used and what risks are associated with its use. There is also information on how to help a friend, resources at Brown and in Providence, and links to learn more.

These pages are written with the following principles in mind:

There are risks involved with any drug use, including alcohol.
Most people who choose to experiment with drugs realize there are health risks involved, but they often don't know what all of those risks are. Many people don’t realize that fatigue, lack of food and prescription drug use can cause a stronger reaction to alcohol.

Alcohol and other drug use increases the risk of being injured, experiencing unwanted sexual activity, and having academic problems. There are also legal and disciplinary consequences for underage drinking and illegal drug use.

You can make safer choices with more accurate information.
If you choose to use drugs or alcohol, you can make safer choices. The information provided on this site can help with that decision-making process.

Respect the rights of people who do not use alcohol or drugs.
Many students on campus do not drink alcohol or use other drugs. People abstain for many reasons, including religious beliefs, personal experiences, family history and legal consequences.

Get help.
Take care of each other. If someone is seriously intoxicated, call EMS at 401.863-4111. Don't take a chance with someone's life. On these pages you can find resources on campus and in Providence if you or your friends are having trouble with drugs or alcohol.